For the past 24 years, the author has worked as an EHS Director, Manager and Consultant to the Construction, Telecommunications, Utility and Renewable Energy sectors. His services include establishing written safety programs, record keeping, site safety auditing, incident investigation, communication techniques, subcontractor management and training. As an accredited OSHA Outreach trainer, he has created and delivered hundreds of OSHA Outreach and specialized safety training programs. He currently serves as the National Director of Compliance Programs for a leading e-learning based technology company.
As a Certified Environmental, Safety & Health Trainer (CET) through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), he has also studied and applied the principals of instructional design in the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of adult learning, and how different training mediums, such as e-learning and m-learning based technologies can offer positive results in the learning hierarchy for both trainers and students.
Workforce training is no longer a matter of best effort when convenient. Companies are now understanding that a well evaluated and managed training program directly correlates to the overall quality and effectiveness of the training itself. Also, the widespread use of technology within the Environmental, Health & Safety arena has given rise to new and more effective training culture, utilizing traditional and digital training techniques and mediums.
An additional driver of these training techniques is the significant change in workforce climate, such as an aging workforce that traditionally did not have the exposure, experience or willingness to adapt to these technologies and utilize them in their occupation. New and younger workers that have been groomed on these technologies since early pedagogy education have come to expect technology to be a common part of their work environment, and a significant tool to be utilized in their daily tasks. Finally, the influx of migrant workers who might not have come from a regulated environment, compounded by language and learning barriers have created additional concerns related to the effectiveness of training delivery methods.
Finally, the matter of learning measurement and retention, regardless of what mediums are utilized, is of significant concern.